The Pale Savior | By : SasatheShy Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 6244 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1 |
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh, nor do I make a profit off of the writing of this story. It is for fan purposes only. |
Chapter Two: Sold
--
Slumber became inevitable for a man draped in a fine blue gown. He sat up in bed, flabbergasted by a floodlight, mysterious and eerie, as it overtook his bedroom chamber. In a flash, the man pushed away his well-fashioned bed sheets, removing himself from the large bed as he stumbled in the dark. He was eager to get to the open balcony overlooking the vast, sandy land. The man, a handsome Dark Face obviously wealthy, pressed against the swirled rims of the railing as he peered into the great distance, taking in the magnificent sight.
“That light,” he gasped. “This feeling. No -- no, it couldn’t be.”
When the light vanished, the man blinked back a twinkle of spots as he ran back into his bedroom. He hurried to a large fine door, pulling it open. Rushing into a grand hallway, he took a servant by surprise, nearly knocking her over as he cupped her shoulders.
“Fetch Seth!” he ordered. “Hurry!”
“That won’t be necessary, my Lord. I am here.”
A very tall dark-skinned man made his way up to the frantic other. He bowed his head, fully dressed in robes golden and blue.
“Seth.” The man moved over to him, firmly gripping the golden robe. “Did you see it, Seth? Did you see the glow of the Sennen Puzzle radiating from afar?”
“I saw and am prepared to find it.”
The man pulled back. He had on a wondrous smile. “It is time, Seth. I can feel it. Prepare a carriage, due haste! I must have it.”
“If I leave now I should be there by afternoon,” Seth said. “I recognize the grounds from where it gleamed. If the trip is a success, I should return in less than three days time.” He bowed before the mysterious Lord.
Once he dismissed Seth, the handsome Lord returned to his bedroom. Upon closing the door, instead of returning to bed, he returned to the balcony, and gazed yonder at the place where the Sennen Puzzle’s glow radiated but a moment ago. He was memorized by that far-distant spot, keen on fitting his hands around that which belonged to him.
“Finally,” said he while breathing in the fresh air. “After years of waiting, you finally reveal yourself to me, savior. After years of waiting, I will finally--” he paused to examine his smooth right hand, “--Be able to rid myself of this torturous curse.”
--
“Yuugi? Yuugi?”
“Mom?”
Exhausted from the previous night, Yuugi was unwilling to wake up. He dreamt a dream he had every night. He ran through a thick white emptiness slowly becoming black as he tried to reach the safety of his mother’s open arms. He fought to call out to her, to tell her to run, but she kept in place, not realizing that the shadow was ready to engulf her.
“No!” Yuugi cried out, watching the blackness take shape. It rose like a demon, howling loudly as it spread over his mother. “Mom! No! Please don’t take her from me!”
“Yuugi!”
“Please!”
Gasping, Yuugi felt heaviness over him, shaking him. His eyes fluttered opened, and he stared with confusion up at Katsuya and Ryou. “W -- what?”
“It’s time to wake up,” Ryou said, motioning to the other servants who rose to leave the tent.
Reality took over. Yuugi tiredly sat up, yawning. The raggedy blanket fell to his waist. Another yawn escaped him, and he raised his arms, stretching like mad before ruffling his hair. Though his manner of waking seemed normal to most, it was most peculiar to his two friends. They were used to Yuugi being the first one up, giving them the nudge, and greeting them with a morning smile. The alternative twist took them by storm.
“You look awful,” Katsuya said, not hesitating with the truth as he watched the shorter rub at his eyes. “Did you not sleep well?”
Adjusting his vision, Yuugi took a moment to think about the night before. “No, I…” And then he remembered. The sneak out, the river, and… “Oh! Katsuya, Ryou, you’ll never believe what I… Wait? Where is it?” Glancing down, Yuugi saw that his marvelous find was missing. Quickly, he rummaged about, pushing back the blankets, getting on hands and knees, squinting between moving bodies. “No. Where is it?”
“Yuugi, what are you doing?” asked Katsuya, completely bewildered by Yuugi’s peculiar behavior.
“I…” Yuugi’s voice trailed. He rested on his knees, stunned.
It was gone. The pyramid was gone. But where? Two possibilities flooded his mind. Perhaps a guard walked in, and took it. No. That would not make sense. Yuugi surely would’ve received gruesome punishment if that be the case. Then perhaps another slave had it? They saw him sneak in, and collected the item for their own satisfaction. That had to be it. Yuugi knew no matter how remarkable the pyramid had deemed in appearance, it was absurd to think it got up and escaped his arms on its own.
“Yuugi? The hell’s wrong with you?”
Gaping, Yuugi peered up at Katsuya. He quickly got to his feet, revealing how dirty he was from his escapade to the riverbank. The linen he wore was dressed in dried, crumbled mud.
“Katsuya,” he wailed, “You won’t believe what happened to me last night! I…!”
“Get out here, you worthless dogs!”
The sudden order from a guard made Yuugi grumble. He felt a firm grip on his shoulder, and saw it belonged to Katsuya. “Hold that thought, Yuugi. Let’s go before we get in trouble.”
Pushed toward the exit, Yuugi took a final glimpse over his shoulder. A tinge of sadness overflowed his heart. The enigmatic treasure had been his slight escape’s worthwhile, but now that it had vanished, he truly considered whether the life he had was better than death.
“Form a line! Form a line!”
Huddled between his friends, Yuugi tried focusing on the event taking place that morning. The guards had every slave shoulder-to-shoulder. Captain Gahiji took his time moving down the line, examining each and every slave. He paused at Yuugi, which caused the short boy to tremble from head to toe.
“You’re filthy,” he sneered. “When was the last time you were given a bath?”
“I -- I don’t remember, sir.” He had lied, but he had done so properly. He had fooled the captain, who merely shrugged and continued down the line.
“Listen up, all of you!” Gahiji backed up. A grin was plastered on his big, dark lips. “It’s inspection day. Some of you lucky pieces of shit will be leaving us today.”
Inspection day, a day of good or bad, depending on the traits of the visiting slave owners aspired to add more to their collections. The buyers traveled from all across the Land of the Five Lords, from each of the five territories, and not all of them treated their Pale Faces as poorly as the current owners Yuugi and his friends worked for. Inspection day always brought excitement about, and it gave the slaves an opportunity to impress, and hope that the judging on the owner’s part was in their favor. Of course, not all purchases ended up in the slave’s favor, for every buyer had deep secrets or special needs expected to be followed. Roles which include cooking, healing, farming, and even whoring. But one would rather wash clothes for food than share a bed. For the most part.
Yuugi eyed his dirty self and frowned. He stood no chance, he was certain, of purchase. He looked to his friends. The two looked so much nicer than he, and he did not want their team to be split up.
Out of the corner of his eye, Yuugi saw a rather bulky Dark Face being led down the slave-line. He was the first buyer, an obvious man of wealth, living a high life from his fancy clothes, with stringy hair and a rugged scruff on his chin. The wafting of a well-wrapped delicacy he puffed on rang smoke against his fat lips. He appeared mean, and Yuugi did not find him at all deluxe.
“This is the best you have?”
The question seemed to stun Gahiji as his buyer paused in front of Ryou. “Well…”
“Never mind.” Taking a huge dose of his smoke, the man exhaled slowly, his eyes concentrated on Ryou’s shivering figure. “Hmm.” He reached out his free hand, cupping Ryou’s chin. Buyers were allowed to touch the product to better see its attributes and flaws. “Not bad.”
Yuugi trembled. This couldn’t be happening. Not Ryou! He begged in his mind for the man to pass Ryou by, and to continue down the line. There were far suitable slaves. There were many lovely women he still could possibly admire. Anyone but Ryou! And Ryou’s uncontrollable shaking affirmed that he was hoping for the same.
“Not bad at all,” coughed the old, fat man. He put out his smoke, stomping his foot over it. “My wife might very well like this one.” He continued down the line. After a while, he returned in front of Ryou, his choice evident. “How much for this one?”
Gahiji played shocked, but was actually quite happy that Ryou had gained the man’s fancy. “Him?”
“Yes. Him. You fucking deaf?”
“No,” Gahiji chuckled. He thought for a moment. “Three hundred.”
Three hundred coin? Yuugi couldn’t believe it! His friend was not cheap, and three hundred coin was cheap. Ryou was lovely and hard-working. He did what was expected of him, without complaint, even if he did struggle with certain tasks. Yuugi felt outraged, and he wanted to shout out at the top of his lungs, and stop this. Even Katsuya shuddered at the auction, and Yuugi distinctively heard a low inappropriate muffle come from the blonde man.
“That much is all?” asked the bulky man.
Even that ugly fart knows, thought Yuugi. But of course he knew. The man surely traded for a living.
Hardly having to think it over, the man nodded. “Reasonable. Generous. I’ll take him.”
Yuugi’s perpetual quietness began to erase its meaning. Building within him was an extremity of anger and sadness as he watched the payment be made, and as he watched the man grab Ryou’s arm, and pull him forward. The man touched Ryou in a crude manner, grazing his fingertips along Ryou’s frail white cheek. And those eyes gleamed at Ryou with a hint of repulsive lust. With no control, Yuugi felt his right foot push forward. His little action caused Gahiji to become alarmed, as well as Katsuya and Ryou.
“You have something to say?” Gahiji asked, marching before Yuugi. He laughed, noticing sparkles forming at the tips of Yuugi’s eyelids. “Aw? Going to cry? Are you going to miss your pathetic pal? Is he your friend?”
A perplexed Katsuya watched on, unable to do anything about his friend’s actions. All he could do was pray for Yuugi to come to his senses.
Laughing occurred, but from the buyer, not the seller. “Poor fucker. At least let him say goodbye.”
Gahiji joined in on the laughter. He backed up, nodding. “Go on then.”
Lifting his head, Yuugi knew he was surprised., but he took this opportunity, even if it were to end up destroying him in the end. Slowly, he looked at Ryou while trying desperately to control his quivering lips and aching heart. “G…Goodbye.”
“Bye,” Ryou replied, his voice low as the man tugged on him to follow. In seconds, Ryou was lifted into the man’s wagon, and was driven off into the desert.
“Get back in line, shrimp!” Gahiji shoved Yuugi back. Yuugi steadied himself, grasping Katsuya for support, going silence once more as other buyers came and went.
--
With shovel in hand, Yuugi shoveled manure as assigned, with the pace of a tortoise. He knew Katsuya was displeased with the careless purpose he followed through after their friend had been sold, for the blonde had not said one word since the inspection had ended. With it being just the two of them now, the quietness made Yuugi uneasy.
“Katsuya?” he whispered. “Are you mad at me?” No reply was received. Not even a signal. Tears formed in Yuugi’s eyes. “Katsuya, say something? Please?”
The blonde fiercely slammed his own shovel into a large, stinky shit pile. Some of the light feces splattered their ankles. Yuugi jumped slightly, painfully flabbergasted.
“What were you thinking?” questioned Katsuya. Though he had to keep his tone down, disappointment shined right through him. “Do you realize how fucking lucky you are, Yuugi? If that damned trader had not made his joke, if he had not requested you say your goodbyes, if you had tried fighting for Ryou’s rights… Do you know what could’ve happened? Do you?”
Unable to speak, Yuugi weakly lowered his head, fighting back tears.
“You’re an idiot, Yuugi,” Katsuya went on. “And thanks to your idiocy, I almost lost not one, but two friends. Ryou is in a much better place now, I’m sure. That buyer looked rich, and I’m sure he’ll be happy.”
“I know,” cried Yuugi. He tried to keep up with the shoveling, but his knees soon gave out on him, and he fell to the ground, weeping uncontrollably. The cries he made, whether purposeful or not, had caught the attention of the guards, and Yuugi, not knowing if he was begging for his life to end, wept without anguish.
“Yuugi?” gaped Katsuya, sensing the guards stares. “Yuugi, what the hell are you doing? Get up, Yuugi. Don’t do this. Get up!”
“Hey!” A guard shouted, making his way over with two others following.
“Damn it,” growled Katsuya. He glanced down at Yuugi. “Idiot, get up. Why are you doing this, Yuugi? Get up.”
“Boy!” the guard stepped up to them, grasping Yuugi’s wrist. “What do you think you’re doing, boy? On your feet!”
The order was ignored. Yuugi allowed his tears to flow, doing best to keep his eyes focused on the ground.
“On your feet!” A sudden blow to the face had Yuugi skidding backwards. His cheek stung from the guard’s brawny fist. “Get up!”
All eyes were on Yuugi, slave and guard alike as he slowly crept onto his hands and knees. The blow to his face had left a red bruise, and reopened the scar on his lip. Dazed somewhat, he blinked back spots, and rose his head as he heard obnoxious laughter coming from the guard that had thrown the punch. Six pairs of dangerously dark eyes glared down at Yuugi. Beasts, snarling and ordering him around, threatening him with their sudden leather brown whips, preparing him for so-called ‘necessary punishment’. One even ordered another to call for the leader of their pack, anxious to have naughty Yuugi at their mercy.
“Fucking shrimp!” they sneered. They spat on Yuugi while they waited for their superior, the mighty Captain Gahiji, to arrive. “Worthless, vile shrimp! Up!”
No more. He could take no more of their power. He could take no more of their torture. Crawling forward, Yuugi gained his own strength, puzzling all with a mighty scream. “No!”
The single, powerful word echoed across the village. None but Yuugi moved. He pushed up on his knees, peering bravely up at the three baffled Dark Faces. Only one managed to speak, after struggling to find his voice. “What…did you say?”
Heaving, Yuugi shook his head. “I said no!”
In seconds, Yuugi squealed as a powerful, wicked grip grasped his hair. It tugged hard, and forced him to his feet. His terrified eyes met with those of the pissed head gun.
“You again?” glared Gahiji, sensing Yuugi’s fear. He grinned. “You’ve turned into quite the troublemaker, haven’t you?” Not having expected Yuugi to wiggle in his grasp, the leader felt he had no choice but to pin Yuugi into the ground. “This one’s turned against us, men. You know what we have to do.”
Gasping, Yuugi shook his head. “No! No!”
“Please? He didn’t mean it!” Katsuya cried, immediately regretting doing so as he was kicked to the ground.
“Silence your tongue or you’ll be joining him, fucker!”
With no other choice, Katsuya did as told. He was forced to join the circle of slaves as an audience for Yuugi’s punishment.
Bawling hysterically, Yuugi felt the guards tug off his linen kilt, tossing it aside as the same speech given for Obi’s death drilled his ears. Lifting his head, he saw that very same blade. It was anxious to be stained once more with the blood of a Pale Face. This time, the Pale Face would be Yuugi. This was it. He was going to die. Was he taking the easy way out? Yes. And he prayed Katsuya would forgive him for his childish insolence. His mother and grandfather too, wherever they were.
“This boy does not know his place,” Gahiji shouted as he raised his blade high. “He thought he could get away with talking back to us. He thought he could play a God, like he owned the land! But he doesn’t! None of you do! Now, let his death be a lesson to all of you. This is what happens when you take on the role of a Dark Face.”
The blade leveled with Yuugi’s neck, then it rose. The air grew stone deaf. Yuugi awaited Death’s door, begging for forgiveness from the afterlife awaiting his acquaintance. His tears never stopped, and he mumbled his apologies loudly, them aimed at Katsuya as the blade readied to silence him forever. However, to Yuugi’s grandest luck, death was not quite ready to drag him under.
“Release that boy!”
With the blade halted in mid-air, Gahiji swooped about, angrily pointing it in the direction of the demand. “Who dares?”
What had happened? Yuugi opened his flooded eyes, glimpsing to his left. He saw a fuzzy form stride across the ring. Adjusting his eyes, Yuugi soon clearly stared up at a tall, handsome man dressed in a fine golden robe with blue silk looming over him. On his shoulder a gorgeous sparrow hawk sat. Sharp blue eyes pierced through the suddenly weak captain of the guard. This man, this sudden stranger, was a Dark Face.
“I order you to release that boy,” said the man.
Yuugi could hardly believe it. He had been saved by a Dark Face.
“Who are you?” Gahiji demanded.
“I am Seth,” the man answered. “Lord of Intellect.”
Gahiji’s eyes bulged. The blade fell to the sandy floor just inches from Yuugi’s face. “The Lord of Intellect? Seth, the mighty healer? The best in all the land?”
“Correct. Now, release that boy! Do not make me repeat myself again!”
Growling, Gahiji waved a single motion, and Yuugi, bewildered still by his traumatized afternoon, felt his restrained hands freed. He kept frozen in place, even as Seth’s piercing sapphires watched him.
“What business have you here, Lord Seth?” Gahiji asked, quite angry by the Lord’s unexpected presence.
“Do you treat all of your slaves so ruthlessly?”
The question asked of him threw Gahiji off course. “Excuse me?”
Kneeling, Seth took hold of the tossed kilt. He eyed Yuugi, and saw the boy was trembling in fear. Seth did not blame the boy, after what he witnessed. He was in awe by tangled black hair with points like a star’s, highlighted with purple tips. This Pale Face shockingly reminded him of the Lord he served. “Put this on, boy.”
Yuugi glanced up at Seth. He took the kilt, and hurriedly dressed. It made no sense to Yuugi, how Seth could seem so caring. He was a Dark Face after all, but it seemed he was one of high rank. The guard Yuugi had once feared was the one looking ready to bow down for forgiveness.
“Why are you here?” growled Gahiji.
Standing tall, Seth calmly faced Gahiji. “I have been given orders by his righteousness Atemu, Lord of Tranquility, to search this village for an item of great importance. An item which belongs to him. And I will search this entire village. Every nook, cranny, Pale Face, and Dark Face alike.”
“What!” shrieked Gahiji.
“No is not an option.” Seth cooed to the sparrow hawk on his shoulder. It walked from his shoulder to his arm. Its talon never once dug into his skin. “Fly, Horus. Find Atemu’s precious Puzzle.”
The beautiful animal soared high into the sky, spreading its magnificent wings as it searched the ground from above. Seth gave a nod to three of his followers: guards dressed differently from the ones Yuugi had to obey. Their attire was hewn with white and maroon. Bowing to their Lord, they moved about, searching every slave and guard.
“This is an outrage,” Gahiji shouted, glaring at Seth. “You have no right!”
“As a Lord, I do.” Seth walked up to Gahiji. “Or would you like proof?”
Yuugi tried to see what Seth was doing, but he could not. He heard Gahiji gasp loudly. Never before had he seen the captain as pale as a slave.
“Now,” Seth said, smirking at Gahiji, “I will search you.”
It would be silly for the Pale Faces to not be astounded by the current change of their often dull and chilling lives, but most could not help but stare as their big, scary boss was searched by the healer known as Seth, and his own Dark Face chaperones. Their small village was truly turned inside out as the search for some unknown object took place. And the only one with some sort of clue was Yuugi. He thought of the pyramid he had found down by the river. Could it be what the men were searching for? Even if it was, Yuugi had no proof of its whereabouts. Not even he knew now. It had disappeared, and for some time, Yuugi thought he had merely imagined its existence. The current event was real, though. Seth was truly there, keeping Yuugi at his side, which confused the short Pale Face, as the hunt soon came to an end after three long hours.
“Anything?” Seth asked as his men returned to his side.
“Nothing,” said one. “We’ve torn apart every room, searched every person, but we’re empty-handed.”
Seth watched as his trusted Horus returned to perch on his shoulder. The bird squawked, and shifted his eyes. Seth sighed softly. “That is odd.” He faced Gahiji. “Has any persons been transported away from here since about midnight last night?”
“Just one,” Gahiji said. “A slave was sold this morning.”
“Find him,” ordered Seth.
“That I can’t do! Look, you’ve done your job. Whatever you were looking for isn’t here, and thanks to your interruption, these slaves have fallen behind schedule. They really ought to thank you, for now they get to wake up extra early in the morning.”
Seth scratched his head, irritated. Perhaps what he sought was lost? Or perhaps he and his Lord Atemu merely dreamed seeing that vivid light?
“Very well,” he said, knowing there was nothing more to be done about it. This would not please his Lord, but perhaps a gift might? “But I am not finished here yet.” He grabbed Yuugi by the hand, and gently tugged the startled boy forward. “I would like to purchase this slave for Lord Atemu.”
A gasp escaped Yuugi, him definitely stunned by Seth’s abrupt request. This was not happening. It could not be happening. Just hours before, he was ready to let his terrible life end, and now he somehow caught Seth’s attention, hell if he knew why, who wished to buy him for another Lord? An actual of the Five who ruled the land?
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness took over him, and he grasped Seth’s arm for support. What he did would not have been to the liking of his owner, but Seth simply ignored him.
“You want to what?” Gahiji seemed just as surprised as Yuugi.
“I think you heard me the first time,” Seth argued.
“Fuck, you don’t want him. He’s a troublemaker! He deserves to die!”
“Why?”
Gahiji pulled back some. Seth was quite frightening. “Because…he dared defile our orders, and fought back.”
Chuckling lowly, Seth grinned. “He sounds perfect for my Lord. I will give you ten hundred coin for him.”
Yuugi gaped. Ten hundred? Was he really worth so much?
“Ten hundred?” Gahiji asked, also surprised by the amount spat. Smirking, he rubbed at his chin. “Give me a second to think.” But it was clear his mind was made up.
“Going once,” Seth irritatingly said, repeating his terms twice.
“Sold. The little shrimp is all yours.”
Nodding, Seth paid the man. The Pale Faces stared on at their comrade, rather jealous of Yuugi. They watched him as he was led over to a large, jewel-trimmed carriage fit for a king. Yuugi glimpsed behind him, seeing Katsuya watching him from their usual work spot.
“Katsuya,” whispered Yuugi, knowing he was again crying. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
But Katsuya was thankful. Though alone now, trapped in hell, he felt relieved that Yuugi had the protection of a guardian angel, and was on his way to a land Katsuya prayed was nothing but paradise.
--
Hoping to gain more attention by adding a second chapter so soon.
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